Fernando Valenzuela became a Cy Young Award winner, Rookie of the Year, MLB Champion, and Legend in 1981. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela passes away The Dodgers announced on Tuesday. He was 63 years old.
Few words evoke such joyful memories as “Fernandomania”. Those were the summer days when Valenzuela was introduced to baseball and then began to take it over. His 1981 season will always be remembered as one of the best rookie years in professional sports history, winning Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award, and a World Series ring.
But Valenzuela’s career was about more than numbers and trophies. He was and remains an iconic figure among Latin American baseball fans and players, and a national hero in his native Mexico. In his heyday, especially in 1981, when “El Toro” was recording shutout after shutout, he had a gravitas that few players could match.
The Dodgers previously announced that Valenzuela would step away from the broadcast booth on Oct. 2 to focus on his health with a goal of returning in 2025. Dodgers President Stan Kasten released a statement expressing his condolences.
“On behalf of the Dodgers, we deeply mourn the passing of Fernando. He was one of the most influential Dodgers of all time and belongs to the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes. He energized our fan base and has remained in our hearts ever since, not only as a player, but also as a broadcaster.He is survived by his wife, Linda. My deepest condolences to his family.”
The Dodgers are scheduled to begin the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. confirmed in a statement The league will honor Valenzuela’s memory.
How Fernando Valenzuela became ‘Fernandomania’
Valenzuela grew up poor, the youngest of 12 children. He began his career as a teenager in the Mexican League, where he was discovered by the great Dodgers scout Mike Brito. The Dodgers bought out his contract in 1979 and watched him work his way through the minor leagues with his strange, sky-high pitching motion.
By 1980, Valenzuela made his debut in the Dodgers’ bullpen. And in 1981, no one was ready for 1981.
Valenzuela started the season with a shutout against last season’s National League West champion Houston Astros. He then pitched a complete game against the San Francisco Giants. Then it was shut out again. And one more thing. And one more thing. He started his career 8-0, pitching eight straight games, five of them shutouts, and pitching 72 innings with a 0.50 ERA.
His start was an appointment viewing at Dodger Stadium, and he became the ace of the team that won the Dodgers’ first World Series since 1965. For the next five years, Valenzuela remained one of the best pitchers in baseball, but began to decline after 1986.
The 1990 season was Valenzuela’s last with the Dodgers and his worst season in Los Angeles, but he still had his moments. On June 29, Valenzuela threw his first and only no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“If you have a sombrero, throw it in the air!” Vin Scully yelled after the final out.
The Dodgers released Valenzuela before the 1991 season, and he went on to play for five other teams before retiring in 1997. He played in the Mexican winter league until his 40s. During the summer, he began working as the Dodgers’ Spanish language commentator and continued to do so until his death.
The Dodgers retired Fernando Valenzuela’s jersey number at the perfect time.
The Dodgers’ standard policy regarding retired numbers is to only honor players who were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after playing most of their careers with the Dodgers. There are two exceptions to this rule. Jim Gilliam and Valenzuela.
For years, Mr. Valenzuela emerged as the weak link in that policy. He was a legend, but not long enough to get into Cooperstown on the BBWAA ballot, and the committee didn’t help either.
The Dodgers finally made another exception to No. 34 for Valenzuela in 2023. This pleased the man who played 11 seasons with the team and worked as a broadcaster for decades. According to The Athletic,
“I never expected something like this to happen,” Valenzuela said. “I never thought I’d be in a situation like this. It’s hard to explain in words.”
A year later, it looks like a very good decision.
